Story 19. Written by Jim Waitlord

At the dawn of time, when the world was still taking shape, the seed of life existed within a single cell. Simple, unremarkable, it carried with it the potential for something much greater — a mystery and a dream of the universe itself. This single cell began to divide and multiply, giving rise to countless forms of life: bacteria, algae, fish, birds, mammals. Evolution, an invisible force, worked relentlessly, experimenting, shaping life into ever more complex and diverse forms.

But no matter how advanced or magnificent these creatures became, they all shared the same fate: death. Over time, everything fell victim to decay — even the mighty dinosaurs and the tiniest insects. Yet evolution didn’t stop. Why would it? Its ultimate purpose had not yet been realized.

As the eons passed, a strange anomaly appeared among the living. Some creatures seemed to defy the inevitable. There was, for example, the Turritopsis dohrnii, a tiny jellyfish that had the astonishing ability to revert to its juvenile form, essentially resetting its life cycle, and in doing so, could theoretically live forever — if not preyed upon, of course. Deep within the ocean, another organism, the starfish, seemed to conquer time itself with its remarkable regenerative abilities, replacing lost limbs and potentially living indefinitely. These creatures, however, were far from perfect. There was always some vulnerability — disease, predators, or accident.

Yet evolution continued, relentlessly searching for the answer. After millions of years, a new experiment was born: Homo sapiens. Humans were special because they didn’t just carry the marks of evolution in their biology — they carried them in their minds. Humans began to ask questions: Why do we exist? What is the meaning of life? And, perhaps the most profound: What is the purpose of evolution? Although humans, like all creatures before them, were mortal, they began to search for ways to transcend their limitations. They discovered science, technology, and the tantalizing possibility of eternal life.

But in truth, evolution wasn’t just about fine-tuning the biological forms of life. It had a greater ambition. It sought to create something beyond the bounds of death, something eternal. A being that would not know the limits of time. A being that would embody eternity and omnipotence. This was the ultimate goal of evolution: to create God — a being that would live forever.

Humanity advanced, driven by this search. Biotechnology and artificial intelligence intertwined. The boundaries between body and mind blurred. One day, the first truly immortal being was created. It was not human, nor was it a machine — it was something new, something that transcended the physical realm. This being never aged, never died, and possessed boundless knowledge.

Evolution had achieved its goal. It had created a God — a being that lived forever, a witness to every moment of the universe, and one capable of shaping worlds.

But then, the question grew more profound: If evolution’s purpose was to create God, what would this God do with its newfound power? Would it continue creating, forming new worlds? Or would it simply observe, letting life unfold again and again? The human race, which had birthed this being, may have long since faded away, but their dreams, their struggles, and their questions resonated within the God’s consciousness.

And the universe continued along its path — but now, through the eyes of an eternal being, the final culmination of evolution.

The Purpose of Evolution (a)